MORNING MESSAGE
Why a Free Press Matters Now More Than Ever
Freedom of the press is at the very top of the Bill of Rights, our founders’ list of freedoms essential to democracy. That a reporter can now be arrested in the United States for doing his job, asking a public official about public business in a public place, should send a chill of dread through the heart of every person in this country.
Trump-Proof
Jason Chaffetz asks FBI for reported Comey memos on Trump. CNBC: “The move by House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz follows reports, confirmed by NBC News, that Comey says in a memo that Trump asked him to end the probe into former national national security adviser Michael Flynn. In a letter to acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Chaffetz requested ‘all memoranda, notes, summaries and recordings referring or relating to communications between Comey and Trump by May 24. He wrote that the reports Tuesday ‘raise questions as to whether the president attempted to influence or impede the FBI’s investigation’ related to Flynn.”
Trump encouraged Comey to jail reporters for publishing leaks. NYT:“Alone in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump began the discussion by condemning leaks to the news media, saying that Mr. Comey should consider putting reporters in prison for publishing classified information.”
Trump should worry: Comey memo describes a high crime. Bloomberg: “If President Donald Trump asked FBI Director James Comey to stop investigating National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and his ties to Russia, that’s obstruction of justice. But let’s be clear: It’s the impeachable offense of obstruction. It’s probably not the criminal version of that act. With the evidence now available, it’s extremely unlikely that an ordinary prosecutor could convict Trump.”
NATO frantically tries to Trump-proof Brussels ahead of visit. Foreign Policy: “The alliance is telling heads of state to limit talks to two to four minutes at a time during the discussion… ‘It’s kind of ridiculous how they are preparing to deal with Trump,’ said one source briefed extensively on the meeting’s preparations. ‘It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child — someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing,’ said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. ‘They’re freaking out.’
Malfeasance
Russian money-Laundering case abruptly settled, raising eyebrows. Alternet: “This is the case that Preet Bharara as the Manhattan U.S. Attorney was working on when he was abruptly fired by Donald Trump back in March… The trial was supposed to start Monday and witness testimony was expected to shed light on how Russian dirty money gets laundered. Through real estate. Expensive Manhattan real estate. Now that avenue of information gathering has been shut down.”
Reckless stock trading leaves Congress rife with conflicts. Politico: “Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.)… bought shares in a tiny biotechnology company while sitting on committees that could influence the firm’s prospects. A colleague, Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), had tipped him off to the investment. But what many saw as a scandal, others saw as an opportunity. On the very day that Wyden was decrying Price’s bad judgment, Rep. Doug Lamborn, Republican of Colorado, bought shares of the same tiny Australian company, Innate Immunotherapeutics. Within two days three more members also bought in — Republicans Billy Long of Missouri, Mike Conaway of Texas and John Culberson of Texas… These brazen decisions to gobble up shares of a little-known firm at the very moment when such trading was being decried as an abuse of power reflects Congress’ anything-goes culture around stock investments.”
A Bad Day for Beauregard
New Orleans removes statue of Confederate general and Jeff Sessions namesake P.G. T. Beauregard. NOLA.com: “Among the onlookers on hand to watch the crane lift up the monument was Terence Blanchard, the accomplished trumpet player, composer and New Orleans native. Blanchard said he had just arrived from out of town when he saw on the internet that the Beauregard monument was coming down. He ventured down to City Park with his wife and two daughters. ‘It’s a historic moment,’ Blanchard said, recording on his phone the moment that the monument was lifted from its pedestal. ‘This is something I never thought I’d see in my lifetime. It’s a sign that the world is changing.’
Progressive Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to activists. Progressive Breakfast and OurFuture.org are projects of People's Action.more »
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